Improvement in paper-boards for buildings



nnAn'cISN. DAvIS, or BELOIT, Wisconsin".

IMPROVEMENT- IN PAPER-BQARDS FOR BUILDINGS,

v Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,795, dated March 19, 1872.

board made in continuous lengths from straw, various results have been accomphshed to render the article more general and useful in'its application to the interior of buildings.

The first step in the development of this art consisted in producing a thick board or paper in continuous lengths from straw, to be used as a Substitute for laths and plastering.

This, however, was open to two objections,

"to Wit: first, it was easily warped and otherwise effected by atmospheric changes, and secondly, it was-not fire-proof.

To remedy the first of these defects the board was treated with coal-tar in the process of con- Struction, but this being found objectionable on account of the disagreeble odor of the tar, a further step was taken to remove it by treatin g the board with inodorous oils, oleaginous compounds, resins, &c. These, however, discolored the board or paper to a great extent, and, owing to their greasy nature,precluded the use of paper-hangings after the board had been applied.

These products were also found to be hi ghly inflammable, and consequently unsafe for use in slight structures.

To render the board both fire and damp proof, and at the same time prevent its discoloration, constituted the last and most important step in the art. This was eifected by treating the board with a solution of alum or its equivalent, bywhich it was coated upon both sides and impregnated to a certain de gree.

These various improvements were all direct ed to the perfection of the board, so that it could be used in place of laths and plastering in the interior of buildings. After being applied it was either painted or covered by ordin ary paper-hangin gs to impart the necessary finish. I

My invention has for its object to develop the final step necessary for the perfection of this product by supplying for general use an article of strawboard or paper which shall not only take the place of lat-hs and plastering, but also form a substitute for the wallpaper, and which may also be made at the same time water proof or fire proof, or combine both these qualities as I will now proceed to describe.

In carrying out my invention I take the continuous lengths of straw-board, either plain, or rendered fire-proof, or water proof, or both, and pass them first between suitable rollers, arranged within a vat, for the purpose of laying on the ground-color. The boardis then passed between two or more additional sets of rollers, which print upon the ground-color any desired ornament, figure, or design in different colors or combinations of colors.

Preferably I arrange the various rolls and color-vats to be used in connection with the papenengine upon which the board is made, so that by continuous operations from the pulp-vat to the final winding-rolls, the finished lengths of board are produced, grained, embossed, gilded, or otherwise ornamented with figures and designs like those of common wallpaper.

The ground-coloring and the printing-rolls and vats may, however, be used separately from the paper-engine, if desired, and they may also be disconnected from each other and used at different times.

By my invention a heavy paper or board is produced which serves as asubstitute for laths, plastering, and paper-han gin gs.

I propose to use any quality of board or paper, either plain or rendered fire-proof or waterproof, or both, by any suitable process;

but I prefer to employ the article for which Letters Patent of the United States were granted to me the 18th day of July, 1871, as it combines the most desirable quantities for building purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. As a new article of manufacture, buildin; paper or board in continuous lengths, made either plain, or fire-proof, or waterproof, or both fire and water proof, and having a Wall-paper finish, for the purposes specified.

2. The process, substantially as described, for giving a Wall-paper finish. to continuous lengths of building paper or board.

FRANCIS N. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

L. J. LANE, C. G. COMSTOCK. 

